28 March 2007

Thousands choose Garmin WAAS upgrade and Mid-Continent display option

WICHITA, Kan. —The steady stream of new and upgraded WAAS (Wide Area Augmentation System) compatible GPS receivers from GARMIN International in Olathe, Kansas are quickly finding their way into aircraft across the country.

Many of these installations require special annunciation displays to meet the latest FAA requirements including WAAS.  “Some installations are required to have these annunciations but for many of our customers, they’ve chosen it because it’s a good idea and an enhancement to their flying safety,” said Todd Winter, president of Mid-Continent Instruments.

Mid-Continent Instruments has added the MD41-1488W Annunciation Control Unit to its family of TSO approved annunciators.  The compact MD41-1488W is self-contained and provides the required WAAS annunciation for the Garmin 400W and 500W series of GPS receivers.

“Avionics installers love the user-friendly design of all MD41 products,” said Winter.  “The compact display is attractive and reliable while being more economical compared to the cost of three lighted switches and the additional labor otherwise required for these upgrade installations.”

Versions are available with or without integrated CDI and OBS switching capability.  These daylight readable displays include automatic photocell dimming and the reliability of 10,000 hour lamps.  Unlike previous versions of the MD41 ACU’s, additional transfer relays are not required because all switching between GPS, VOR, ILS is handled by the GNS 430/503.  This allows for a smaller size display and provides more options for panel mounting.

 “Panel space in all aircraft is at a premium,” said Winter.  “Our well known solution, the MD41 annunciation control unit, is perfect for these new WAAS enabled installations.”

Available in 14 or 28 volts, the MD41-1488W is TSO c129 certified and meets RTCA DO-160c environmental specifications.  The MD41-1488W, -1468A, and –1408A are immediately available for purchase through any FAA approved avionics shop.  To locate an avionics dealer in your area, visit www.aea.net.

Mid-Continent Instruments manufactures aircraft instruments for the general aviation industry.  Services at the Wichita, Kansas facility also include developing and manufacturing new avionics products.  Mid-Continent Instruments West in Van Nuys, California provides new instrument sales and is the top-rated instrument overhaul shop on the west coast.  Together the locations employ more than 150 people and offer the largest general aviation instrument overhaul/exchange program in the world.  Specialties include gyro, altimeter, HSI and autopilot system overhauls.  Mid-Continent instruments are found in all new Cessna airplanes and in Raytheon’s Beech line of Bonanzas, Barons, King Airs and 1900 Airliners.  Instruments are sold to other manufacturers such as GARMIN International, Honeywell, Cirrus, Lancair, Piper Aircraft Inc., Diamond and Robinson Helicopter Co.